Intercultural Communication Studies

General Information

The Intercultural Communication Studies program is an international, intercultural, interdisciplinary, and multilingual program offered by the Language Centre in collaboration with other departments of the University of Tampere. It is designed to complement language and communication skills courses, and thereby increase intercultural communication competence. The program is open to students of all faculties, and it has also been approved as a minor subject by some faculties. The courses are taught mainly in English to encourage the participation of international students and promote interaction between them and Finnish students.

The Intercultural Communication Studies program consists of basic compulsory courses on intercultural communication theory and practice, followed by a choice of courses on various cultures, skills and practical applications. Some of the culture specific courses are taught in the language of the culture concerned. There is also a small language component to encourage students to become familiar with a less commonly taught language.

The program operates:

1. as an independent program which can be taken as a minor subject if the faculty approves
2. as an option from which separate components can be chosen

Target groups:
Finnish students, international students, and university personnel of both the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology.

Language of instruction:
English is the most commonly used language, but in the appropriate parts, other languages have their place. Students are encouraged to create a multilingual package from courses in different languages.

Extent of the program: 25 ECTS credits (15 credits)

Examiner: Ewald Reuter, phone: 3551 6147, email: ewald.reuter@uta.fi

Program Coordinator: Nancy Aalto, phone 3551 6380, email: nancy.aalto@uta.fi. Any questions concerning the Intercultural Communication Studies program can be directed to Nancy Aalto: office hour Wednesdays 14.15-15.00 and by appointment.

 

Registering for Courses

The number of places in the courses is limited. Attendance and class participation are also considered essential for completion of most of the courses. For some courses it is preferable that the Foundations courses be taken first.

Registration takes place by computer for most of the courses, see the university website for further information: www.uta.fi /studies/nettiopsu/. Final registration lists will be posted on the internet and on the Intercultural Communication Studies noticeboard in the Language Centre. Due to the nature of the subject and the methodology used, the courses need to have a mixture of Finnish and international students. Therefore, when there are more students than the group can take, a final class list will be made based on the following factors:

• Completion of Foundations and other ICS courses – students who have declared that they are taking the whole ICS program will be given priority
• Number of overall credits achieved towards degree - degree students who have earned the most credits toward their degree will be given priority
• International exchange students who are in Finland for only one academic year or less will be admitted according to the order of registration which the computer records.

The final list will be posted before the first class meeting. There will also be a waiting list in case someone on the final list cannot participate after all. Students on the waiting list should attend the first class or check with the teacher during the first 2 weeks of the term to see if any places have become available. Students on the final list should notify the teacher or the Program Coordinator if they cannot come to the first class but plan to attend the course, or if they cannot attend the course at all.

For the language courses in sections 1 and 2 of the program, see the Language Centre Study Guide, the Schedule of Courses or the teachers of the courses for information on how to sign-up. Only special courses will be listed on the ICS noticeboard.

Students not taking the whole ICS program can take individual courses if there are places available.

Students from Tampere University of Technology can take part in the ICS program under the JOO agreement. The first course, Introduction to Intercultural Communication is also offered at Hervanta in cooperation with the TUT Language Centre. Students can take other courses to complete the ICS program at the University of Tampere, but they have to first apply to their own university, see joopas.fi . The application is also in English.

 

Course Materials

In some courses there will be a materials fee for course materials which will be distributed by the teachers. Some material may also be available to course participants on a very limited short-term loan through the Language Centre’s Self-Access Centre.

 

Intercultural Communication Studies Noticeboard

The ICS noticeboard is located in the E-wing opposite room E 332.

 

Objectives of the Program

1. To provide the student with theoretical perspectives that help to explain interactions between members of different cultures and subcultures
2. To explore principles and techniques that can be used to improve intercultural communication and overcome associated problems.
3. To provide students with opportunities to enhance their intercultural communication experience.
4. To acquaint the student with current literature and prevailing concepts in the field of intercultural communication.

 

Credits / ECTS

In the ICS program, 1 credit is worth 27 hours of work for a student, including class time, reading and assignments. The number of hours of class time may differ from course to course; however, it is generally 12 hours per credit. Language courses may contain more class hours.

 

Components of the Program

1. Foundations of Intercultural Communication - Theory and Practice

The courses in this section aim to provide basic theories on culture, communication and intercultural interactions. These theories will then be applied through exercises designed to increase students’ awareness of themselves as cultural beings and of the influence of culture on communication. The courses in this section are compulsory for completion of the whole 25 ECTS credit program, and preferably they should be taken first. They may also be prerequisites for some of the other courses.

2. Dimensions and Applications of Intercultural Communication

The courses in this section deal with various aspects of culture and communication within specified contexts. The aim is to increase students’ understanding of these aspects, and their ability to apply the knowledge they have gained.

3. Cultures, Skills and Practice

This section deals with specific cultures such as national, linguistic, ethnic or professional groups. There are also courses which aim to develop specific skills, and opportunities to practice intercultural communication skills.

4. Language Component

Language study is also included in the program to encourage students to try a language which is not compulsory for their degree. Students can take courses on any level in any language other than English (Finns cannot use Finnish or Swedish language courses either) to fulfil this requirement. However, the same course cannot be used to for degree requirements or those of another program. Some introductory courses in languages not regularly taught in the Language Centre may also be arranged as part of this program.

Contents of the Program

1. Foundations of Intercultural Communication - Theory & Practice

Both of the courses in this section are compulsory, and 101 should be completed before or concurrently with 102. Since the Foundations courses provide important basic information, and may also be prerequisites for taking some other courses in the program, they should be taken first.

101 Introduction to Intercultural Communication 5 ECTS credits (3 credits)
102 Increasing Intercultural Competence 5 ECTS credits (3 credits)

2. Dimensions and Applications of Intercultural Communication

Choose a minimum of 4 ECTS credits (4 credits only) from the following:

201 Aspects of Multiculturalism 3 ECTS credits (2 credits)
202 Cultural Marginality 3 ECTS credits (2 credits)
203 Investigating Aspects of Culture 3 ECTS credits (2 credits)
204 Visual Art - Perception - Identity 2 ECTS credits (1 credit)
205 Language, Communication and Culture 1 ECTS credit (1 credit)
206 Extra Project/Alternative Course 1-3 ECTS credits (1-2 credits)

3. Cultures, Skills and Practice

Choose a minimum of 3 ECTS credits (3 credits only) from the following:

301 Gespräche über finnisch-deutsche Kulturunterschiede 2 ECTS credits (1 credit)
302 Cultura española 3 ECTS credits (2 credits)
303 Cultura latinoamericana 3 ECTS credits (2 credits)
304 InterActing Across Cultures 2 ECTS credits (1 credit)
305 Intercultural Communication at Work 2 ECTS credits (2 credits)
306 Multicultural Stories 2 ECTS credits (1 credit)
307 Cultural Conversations 1-2 ECTS credits (1 credit)
308 Tutoring International Students 1 ECTS credit (1 credit)
309 Cincinnati-Tampere Videoconferencing Project 1 ECTS credit (1 credit)
310 Extra Project/Alternative Course 1-2 ECTScredits (1-2 credits)

4. Language Component

Choose 3-6 ECTS credits (2 credits only)

Courses on any level in the following languages may be used for this section:

Finnish as a Foreign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Introduction to… Language and Culture

In regard to the last course in the list above, introductory courses on languages and cultures not usually taught in the Language Centre may also be arranged as part of this program. Courses which fulfill degree requirements or those of another program may not be applied to this section. It is possible that some languages may not be offered every term.

Not all of the courses listed above will be given during one academic year. Check the fall and spring schedules to see which courses will be offered. Most courses require a minimum number of participants; therefore, cancellations may occur during the first 2-3 weeks. New courses may also be added. See the ICS noticeboard and the Language Center website for the most up-to-date information.

Flexible Credits in Sections 2-4

The total number of required ECTS credits (op) to complete the ICS program is now 25. Due to the fact that the courses offered may vary from year to year, the required number of credits for sections 2-4 has been made flexible. Thus, in addition to the minimum number of credits required for each section, 5 additional credits can be chosen from, and preferably spread out between, sections 2-4.

In some cases, students may choose to receive more or less credits for a specific course, depending on the requirements set by the teacher. In other words, in some cases students may have a choice of receiving fewer credits for a course for doing less work, for example, being exempt from an assignment. Choosing fewer credits may mean taking a grade of “Pass” instead of a number grade.

Summary of Credits by Section for the Complete Program

Section 1.	10 ECTS credits compulsory
Section 2.	4 ECTS credits minimum
Section 3	3 ECTS credits minimum
Section 4	3 ECTS credits minimum
Subtotal	20 ECTS credits according to section requirements
Electives	5 ECTS credits student’s own choice from sections 2-4
Total	25 ECTS credits total necessary for complete program

The requirement for the completion of the ICS program is 25 ECTS credits. It is possible to take more than 25 ECTS credits; however, when the final grade is calculated, only 25 ECTS credits can be included in the total. The rest of the credits will be counted as general studies. Once the final grade is calculated it cannot be changed.

 

Grading

Grades will be given for most courses. In some cases, only a grade of “Pass” or “Hyväksytty” will be granted upon completion of the course requirements. The grading scale is as follows:

5	= Excellent
4	= Very Good
3	= Good
2	= Satisfactory
1	= Sufficient

 

The final grade for the whole program will be indicated in the register as either ET - “Erittäin hyvät tiedot” or Excellent, HT - “Hyvät tiedot” or Good, or TT -“Tyydyttävät tiedot” or Satisfactory.

 

Completing the Whole Program

If you are planning to take the whole 25 ECTS credit program, you are advised to go over your selection of courses with the Program Coordinator in good time. Courses taken in other departments of the university must be approved by the Examiner before they can be applied to the ICS program. This process may take time. The total number of ECTS credits must be exactly 25. It is possible to take more than 25 ECTS credits, but you must then decide which courses you want to include in the final grade. The remaining courses will go under General Studies. When you think you have completed all of the requirements, you should inform the Program Coordinator so the register can be checked and the final grade calculated.